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Findings from the Field

Ghana translates research into practice to ensure community engagement for successful primary health care service delivery

By John Koku Awoonor-Williams, Elisabeth Tadiri, and | September 13, 2016

Ghana created the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) initiative in 1994 to aim of reducing barriers to geographic access to primary health care. Read on to learn about the critical success factors of the program--community engagement and participation--and practical guidance for implementation.

Ghana CHPS
Findings from the Field

The Community of Practice Health Service Delivery: Strengthening Health District Teams to Accelerate PHC Improvement in Africa

By Jean Paul Dossou, Basile Keugoung, Elisabeth Tadiri, and | July 28, 2016

Since 2009 the Community of Practice Health Service Delivery under Harmonization for Health in Africa (HHA) has grown to more than 1,400 members from 78 countries. Over the past seven years, the community focused on building a network of district health management teams that values and prioritizes information sharing and learning through a horizontal learning environment. A recent test of fast learning cycles in Guinea and Benin revealed the role of the community in enabling peer-to-peer communication and information exhange among disparate groups. Read on for deeper insights from the Community of Practice Health Service Delivery into lessons learned on starting a scaling a successful global network. 

Expert Insight

Unlocking the door to healthcare for all Nigerians

By Francis Nwachukwu Ukwuije | March 23, 2016

Universal Health Coverage has been a priority in Nigeria since 2000, but it was really the National Health Policy of 2006 and the National Strategy Development Plan of 2010-2015 that elevated the need for UHC in Nigeria. Still, despite both these documents, not much progress towards UHC had been made until former President, Goodluck Jonathan, passed a declaration that called health a fundamental right and the responsibility of the government.

Expert Insight

Saving Mothers & Babies Advances in Africa

By Melinda Gates | October 29, 2015

For the hundreds of thousands of women and newborns who die during pregnancy or delivery each year across Africa, the underlying cause of death is a fundamental lack of access to basic health care. In this op-ed originally published in AllAfrica, Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, highlights how primary health care and better data can help improve access to quality health care for women and their newborns.

Melinda Gates
Expert Insight

Primary Care: The First Step Toward Stronger Health Systems

By President John Dramani Mahama | September 26, 2015

Since the 1990s, Ghana has taken siginificant steps to improve primary health care, including launching the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) program and ensuring financial access through the National Health Insurance Scheme. President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana joins fellow heads of state in signing the global framework for sustainable development and urges increased attention to strengthening health systems and enhancing the ability to respond to global health threats.

Ghana newborn health
Findings from the Field

Improving primary health care in Nigeria: What’s needed now

By Muhammed M. Lecky and Tunde Segun | September 24, 2015

There is a growing commitment by Nigerian policymakers to address gaps in the health care system, including a strong focus on primary health care – the frontline of health. However, poor health outcomes persist throughout the country. No one appreciates more than we do that building a high-performing health care system, accessible to all, in our country is a great challenge, yet we are optimistic that Nigeria is on the right path. Muhammed Lecky, the Executive Secretary of the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) and Tunde Segun, Nigeria Country Director for Evidence for Action (E4A), reflect on Nigeria's progress and the need for the right data and tools for evidence-based decision-making.

Nigeria mother and child